Re: Testing for (in)competence

Subject: Re: Testing for (in)competence
From: "Robert W. Jones" <shaka -at- NETCOM -dot- COM>
Date: Thu, 2 Mar 1995 14:06:17 -0800

I happen to be a twofer - Black and 40+. I am past counting the
number of times that I have been asked to take a just-in-time made up test.
In any court of law these test would be folly. Can you imagine a pubs
manager in a court of law giving testimony about a test they made up when
said manager is not a test expert...my Gawd, any lawyer worth his or her
salt would eat that manager alive. I am sure most of these test/cases
are settled out of court.

Thank you for sharing your horror story with me. 3 weeks ago I had an
interview with a company in Alameda, CA. I was to see the
employment office and the hiring manager. Employment gave me the standard
application. The application requested that I list my last jobs for the
past 5 years *or* since high school. Jan I am a 1966 HS grad! I gave my 5
year history. The employment officer became irate. She asked me just what
is a Technical Writer? That question sent me to Mars because I am
thinking is this a trick question or is this lady stupid? I gave her my
dictionary type answer. Then she asked why I did not give a complete
history of my employment. I explained to her that I gave the answer per
the application. She abruptly ended the interview and walked away. I
asked questions, but I got no answer. She continued to walk. I returned
to her office and took back my resume/application and tore it up. She
called security, but I walked very quickly out and away with my torn papers.
No, I did not get the job, but who needs hell and abuse.

Jan, I think a lot of folks will eat shit and give/take any abuse even in
our beloved trade.

On Thu, 2 Mar 1995, Jan Boomsliter wrote:

> I was asked only once to write a test piece during an interview. When
> I was left in the room with paper and pencil (I'm not making this up!),
> I went to find a phone to call the agent who set up the interview (she
> hadn't been informed of any "test"), told her to tell the agency that I
> don't write with a pencil, I don't take tests, and that I
> wonder if they are assuming that I lie and cheat because that's what
> they do.

> The agent apologized profusely.

> I advise others to never take a "test" that's been cobbled up in-house.
> Testing is a science, and you are putting the only thing you have -
> your reputation - on the line with something that has no proven
> results.


> FWIW,
> jb
> ============================
> Unless your test can pass muster with with legal and test experts, you
> may be getting your company into tort city of legal suits now or
> later. You test/case could pass muster with your legal and test experts and
> still get a big kick in the pants in court if your company and or
> department has a history of being bias against certain groups.

> On Thu, 2 Mar 1995, Geoff Hart wrote:

> > << Geoffrey Marnell <gmarnell -at- OZEMAIL -dot- COM -dot- AU>
> > << Suppose that there is no accreditation process to help you select a
> > << technical writer for a new project. Suppose, too, that you want to
> > << create a simple test to help you select the best technical writer
> >
> > Geoff: (Nice name!)
> > It's interesting to see debate on whether we should be tested for
> > competence as part of the job interview process. Since I've never been
> > interviewed without a test (always oral, usually written), I'm
> > surprised to see that there's any debate on this at all! Nowadays,
> > with dozens (if you're lucky) or hundreds of applicants for each good
> > writing job, you've got to come up with some way of eliminating the
> > "poseurs".
> > Selecting a good writer isn't as hard as it sounds... or to be more
> > precise, excluding the bad ones is easier than most of us think. Since
> > you specified the context of an accounting manual, try this test: Ask
> > the applicant to document how s/he fills in a deposit slip at the bank
> > when the deposit comprises cash (rolled coins and bills), money
> > orders, and cheques, and when there will be a cash withdrawl at the
> > same time. In your instructions you should hint (but don't specify)
> > that the depositor should also keep a record to update his/her
> > bankbook, and if they do so (and add text on balancing the checkbook
> > records) treat this as a bonus. Anyone who takes more than one page to
> > document this procedure, or who can't do it _well_ in one page, should
> > be excluded unless there is some justification for greater length
> > (e.g., lavish illustration of the text with images of the deposit slip
> > and detailed explanation of the fields, which would demonstrate the
> > person is at least somewhat visually literate).
> > Hope this helps!
> > --Geoff Hart #8^{)} <--- attempt at visual literacy
> >



Previous by Author: Re: Testing for (in)competence
Next by Author: Re: A Test to Select Competent technical Writers
Previous by Thread: Re: Testing for (in)competence
Next by Thread: Re[2]: Testing for (in)competence


What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:


Sponsored Ads